Bondi Lifesaver

The Bondi Lifesaver was a staple of the Sydney music scene for almost 10 years from 1971 until it closed with a bang on the 31st of August 1980. The “lifesaver”, as it was widely known, started out as a wine bar in a couple of terrace houses but eventually, walls were knocked down to create a proper music venue. It attracted the absolute cream of Australian music from Johnny O’Keefe, AC/DC & Billy Thorpe to bands like Skyhooks, Little River Band and Cold Chisel who were all regulars. The story is told that the members of Dragon lived either next door or close by and was practically the house band there for a while.

I have to admit that I’m really not sure if I ever went there or not. It was that kind of place. I have a vague and blurry recollection of seeing the Captain Matchbox Whoopee Band there one night around 1979 but again, it’s the sort of place that encourage “big nights” so I could be completely wrong. I’m sure someone will be able to confirm that gig in the comments below if it ever actually happened.

Luckily for us Colin Baldwin got hold of a recording of the closing night which was an absolute all-star affair. Enjoy the memories and don’t forget to leave your favourite Bondi Lifesaver moments in the comments below.

omg loved the bondi lifesaver my second home i went every night and after it was off to the manzil room swannee was the cook and made the best hamburgers. and paul hewson from dragon lived around the corner

Remember coming up from Victoria twice to go to The Lifesaver (or the Wifeswapper as Sherbet referred to it) in 78/79. Saw Dragon and Rose Tattoo. I remember a slightly raised seating area towards the back and the very dodgy bathrooms.

The cure did play at the lifesaver…….didn’t see em but heard it on jjj back in the mid eighties……..the female dj let it ( the recording done by jj) which must have been recorded circa 79 or 80 play for 3 or 4 songs saying………”I couldn’t bear to take it off”………..brilliant sound, brilliant venue……..bummer I missed it…..

I went to the Bondi Lifesaver in around 1980 and saw Cold Chisel there. I cant remember who supported them but it was a great night. Me and my friend were underage but had no problems getting in, but as the last train to the country town where we lived had gone we ended up sleeping in a squat near the Lifesaver until the first train went the next day.

I started going there when I was 15. Saw the Cure there numerous times, Skyhooks, Dragon, Rose Tattoo, Australian Crawl, Radiators, Cold Chisel, Mi-Sex, Uk Squeeze, Midnight Oil, Swanee, Mentals, INXS, Flowers and the list goes on. Use to be a fountain in the back yard. I even climbed the back fence a few times when there was a full house. Best times of my life when the music scene in Sydney was thriving. I was there most weekends and days during the week when good gigs were on. I use to walk home to Rushcutters bay most nights as I was rather spend my last taxi dollars on another drink.

I used to work there as a waitress, started shortly after it first opened. It was a gigantic wild party every night. Was a bit of a free for all then, with many many bottles of champagne being given away. Not to mention that awful drop called wine called Ben Ean. The staff knew the place as being converted from an old shirt factory, not terrace houses.

It’s fantastic reading all the nostalgic comments, I used to be front man in a band called rhythm beats resident at beatle village Taylor Square, 1965 to 1967, just wondering if anyone remembers it, it’s where the easy beats started off.

Wow !!! thanks for the memories.
I am surprised anyone is still alive after those days……..does anyone remember the slogen written on the wall in the carpark ?
Drugs are for those who can’t handle reality….and reality is for those who can’t handle drugs.

Was the most intimate of venues, would never happen again unfortunately, remember ACDC there one night and beer was going everywhere. Sadly its closure was the end of the Sydney music scene. Was never the same again but will never forget those sweaty nights, nights out on the grass.. we were all lucky to grow up in that period.

I found the place, determined to see Ross Wilson’s Mondo Rock, as they were known then. What a great night. The crowd included Angry Anderson, Bon Scott, John Paul Young, Glenn Shorrick and two other members of the Little River Band.
Ross and the boys were just fantastic. I went back the next time they played there again but the place closed without me not seeing any other bands there.

Remember being dragged away from completing a college assignment by my mates out in the suburbs to see this great new band at the Lifesaver. Cold Chisel late on a Wednesday night in front of a small crowd. Just awesome. They kicked on a tad after that! Best memories are of seeing the Tatts there many times, one night with a guest appearance by Angus Young. Great live music venue!

I used to work in the food area of the bar. “Cocaine corner” divided the two. Often some of the band members used to come back to the tiny kitchen for a chat or snack and I remember laughing so hard with Swannee one night as we made a miniature piano out of cardboard, chips for keys and tinfoil for a candleabra on top! He wasn’t the chef there but he did help out sometimes just for fun. There was nothing like the Lifesaver and it was a part of my life I’ll treasure forever.

I was lucky enough to work every Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights at the Lifesaver for a couple of years in 1975 and 1976. Wonderful memories of ‘The Swap’, without doubt, Australia’s best and iconic music venue in the 70’s. By far the biggest night in the time I worked there, was ACDC, when John the manager told us to not bother working, as the crowd was so packed you literally could not move. John estimated there were about 3000 people in there that night. The memory of Angus jumping off the stage, and doing his schoolboy skip guitar solo along the length of the main bar will live with me forever.